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Reese’s Senior Bowl 2019: 10 NFL Draft prospects to watch

By John Mitchell

STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 17: Quarterback Will Grier #7 of the West Virginia Mountaineers leaps into the end zone for a touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the fourth quarter on November 17, 2018 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State upset West Virginia 45-41. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 17: Quarterback Will Grier #7 of the West Virginia Mountaineers leaps into the end zone for a touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the fourth quarter on November 17, 2018 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State upset West Virginia 45-41. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Northern Illinois’ Sutton Smith is another intriguing off-the-radar edge rushing prospect who is likely to fall somewhere between day two and day three of the draft in April.

Smith, much like Ximines, lacks the ideal size to play as a traditional 4-3 defensive end, which means he’s likely set as a 3-4 outside linebacker at the next level. He’s more of a polished coverage guy, however, which could make him more effective right away. Regardless, he’s athletic enough to contribute on special teams at the next level in the very least.

Smith produced big numbers with the Huskies, coming up with 29 sacks and 56.5 tackles-for-loss over the last two seasons in DeKalb. Smith uses his outstanding lateral agility to terrorize opposing quarterbacks.

Smith produced against the best of competition during  his time at Northern Illinois. He was particularly dominant against Utah in September as the Huskies came close to pulling off a huge upset of the Utes. He lived in the Utah backfield, racking up 4.5 tackles-for-loss and a pair of sacks in the 17-6 defeat.

He has outstanding instincts and a quick first-step, but he will need to get bigger and stronger to ever be a potential every down player at the next level.

He’s not going to be a first round pick regardless of what happens at the Senior Bowl and the combine, but an impressive showing this week could allow him to threaten to break into the early portion of day two.

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